Palaweños will get a plenty dose of space science treats this October.
The Department of Science and Technology-Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) is set to engage schools from Palawan and some schools from Metro Manila and Cebu to the 2014 World Space Week (WSW) celebrations to be held from October 8 to 10 at The Legend Palawan Hotel and the Palawan State University. The WSW is commemorated annually to provide a venue for students and educators to learn more about space science and its benefits to humankind as declared by the United Nations General Assembly in 1999. In the Philippines, the WSW is being celebrated under DOST-SEI’s Philippine Space Science Education Program.
This year’s Space Week is marked with the theme “Space: Guiding Your Way” and will feature the benefits of satellite navigation to society.
It will be participated in by schools from Palawan and from four campuses of the Philippine Science High School (PSHS) System, namely, PSHS Central Luzon, PSHS Western Visayas, PSHS Central Visayas and PSHS Main Campus. SEI Director Dr. Josette Biyo said this year’s theme is very timely as this generation is largely reaping the benefits of satellite technology applications such as Global Positioning System in computers and smartphones, online traffic monitoring, road map navigation and others.
“Space science plays a major role in making us understand the things we see and the things we do not see,” Biyo said. “It helps us prepare against catastrophes, especially in this era headlined by climate change, making us minimize the damage these happenings do to life.”
The 2014 WSW will be highlighted by activities, such as lectures on Space Technology Applications and Global Navigation Satellite System, star-telescoping and viewing of the total lunar eclipse on the night of October 8, training on water-rocket making, poster making contest, Astronomy for Educators’ Training, and the annual National Water Rocket Competition.
The winning team in the water rocket plum will represent the country in the Water Rocket Launching event at the Asia-Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum in December in Tokyo, Japan. “In the past years, we have effectively increased awareness and appreciation of students and teachers in space science and we hope to continue building on that impact by being one with other nations in celebrating the largest space event in the world,” Biyo said.
S&T Media Service